johnson



(No Model.) I r Y J. L, SWANSON.

UAR COUPLING.

No 505,861. Patented Oct. 3,1893.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. SWANSON, OF SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-FOURTH TO ANDREW M. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,861, dated October 3, 1893. Application filed June 23,1893. Serial No. 478,643. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. SWANSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Oar- Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car couplings.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of car couplings, and to provide a simple and inexpensive one, which may be readily coupled and uncoupled without going between cars.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, in coupling cars, a link may be readily guided into a draw-head and held at the desired elevation While guiding it, from the top of a car to obviate the necessity of going between cars and guiding the link by hand.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a car coupling constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. 7 1

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a draw-head, having a coupling pin perforation 2 to receive a coupling pin 3, and provided at the bottom of its link cavity with longitudinal side grooves 4 and a rear inclined portion 5, receiving a link lifter 6 and forming a fulcrum for the same. The link lifter 6, which is fulcrumed on the inclined portion 5 of the bottom of the drawhead, is provided with forwardly extending arms 7 adapted to support the sides of a link 8 to tilt the latter upward at an inclination to enable it to be readily arranged at the de-' sired elevation for guiding it into the mouth of a draw-head for coupling. The rear portion of the link lifter 6 isloosely connected by a short chain 9 with a vertically disposed spring actuated bar 10, mounted on the drawhead in rear of the coupling pin and connected with a push-rod 11, extending to the top of 'the car 12 to enable the link to be guided from the top of the car to obviate the necessity of going between cars and guiding the link by hand. The bar 10 is vertically movable and is connected to a vertically disposed spiral spring 12,which is mounted on the draw-head at one sideof thebarlO. Theupper end of the bar 10 is provided at one side with a recess 13, in which is detachably secured by a plate 14 a horizontal arm' 15 of the push-rod. The push-rod is arranged in a suitable guide 16, and has at its lower end the said arm 15 which is preferably formed integral with it. The upper end of the push-rod is arranged in a keeper or railing 17, which is mounted on top of thecar; and located at the back of the railing or keeper is a plate 18 provided with notches and adapted to be engaged by hooks 19 of a chain 20, which extends over and around pulleys 21 and 22. and is connected or attached to the coupling pin 3 to enable the latter to be readily raised for uncoupling and lowered for coupling. A chain, rope or other equivalent may be employed for raising and lowering the coupling pin, and the second hook is employed for holding the coupling pin elevated. The pulley 22 is journaled in a support,composed of similar side bars 23, having their upper ends converging and secured together, and'their lower ends bent at an angle and secured to the top of the draw-head; and the support or hanger of the pulley21 is similarly constructed. The guiding of the link is rendered positive by a horizontal arm 24, projecting forward from the bar 10 and arranged above and adapted to engage and depress the inner portion of the link as the outer portion of the latter is elevated. The draw-head is provided at its back with a recess 25, communicating with the opening for the bar 10 to permit the operation of the arm; and the latter is provided with an upwardly extending shank or portion secured to the vertically movable spring actuated bar.

It will readily be seen that the car coupling is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that the operation of coupling and uncoupling may be readily performed without going between cars, and that the link may be similarly guided.

Any suitable means may be provided for enabling the link guiding and pin lifting mechanism to be operated from the sides of a car.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

The link lifter has the outer ends of its sides or arms beveled to conform to the bevel of the front of the draw-head to enable alink to readily enter the same Without obstruction.

What I claim is 1. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided at its bottom with an inclined portion forming a fulcrum, a link lifter arranged on the bottom of the drawhead and fulcrumed by the inclined portion of said bottom, and means for tilting the link lifter on the bottom of the draw-head, substantially as described.

2. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided at the back of its bottom with an inclined portion, a coupling pin, a link lifter fulcrumed on the inclined portion of the bottom of the draw-head and adapted to be tilted and provided with forwardly extending arms arranged on opposite sides of the coupling pin and adapted to support and lift the link, and means for tilting the link lifter, substantially as described.

3. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided at its bottom with longitudinal grooves and having at the back of the bottom an inclined portion, a coupling pin, a link lifter fulcrumed on the inclined portion of the bottom and provided with outwardly extending sides arranged inthe grooves of the draw-head and having their outer ends beveled and conforming to the configuration of the bevel of the draw-head, and means for tilting the link lifter, substantially as described.

4. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided at its bottom with an inclined portion, a link lifter arranged within the draw-head and fulcrumed on the inclined portion, a vertically movable bar loosely conneoted with the link lifter, a link arranged on the link lifter, and an arm extending out- Ward from the bar and arranged above and adapted to engage the upper face of the link, substantially as described.

5. In a car coupling, the combination of a draw-head provided at its bottom with an inclined portion, a link lifter arranged within the draw-head and fulcrumed on the inclined portion, a vertically movable bar loosely connected with the link lifter, a link arranged on the link lifter, an arm extending outward from thebar and arranged above and adapted to engage the upper face of the link, a spring mounted on the draw-head and connected to the bar and holding the latter elevated, and a push-rod mounted on the car and extending to the top thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a car coupling, the combination ofa draw-head, a coupling pin, a link lifter ful crumed on the bottom of the draw-head and arranged Within the same, a vertically movable spring actuated bar mounted'on the draw-head and loosely connected With the link lifter and provided with an outwardly extending arm, a car a push-rod mounted on the car and extending to the top thereof, a keeper arranged on top of the carand receiving the push-rod, a plate mounted on the car and provided with a recess, pulleys mounted on the car and the draw-head, and a chain connected to the coupling pin and passing around the pulleys and provided with hooks adapted to engage the plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that Iclaim theforegoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. SWANSON.

Witnesses:

ANDREW J OHNSEN, O. H. CROVVNHART 

